A. 314 – Google

This movie was solidly entertaining but not scary. So if that’s what you’re looking for, walk away. If you may enjoy something that makes you think about the loss of a child or about childhood trauma, this could be for you. I liked it. I keep hearing people complain about the lack of screen time for the villian. I actually found that refreshing. We often spend so much time focusing on the killer and what his motivations are that the victims’ stories are lost. Who cares what the villain’s motivations are!?! Is there ever a justification for serial killing children? And it’s obvious that the Grabber was abused as a child, if people really need insight into his origin story. SPOILER ALERT!! People have also brought up how there should’ve been more exploration into why only the Grabber and Finney hear the phone. I thought their connection was obvious - they were both abused children wearing “masks” to get by. The Grabber’s mask made him appear strong, but when he was unmasked, he was revealed to still be a scared, weak person. Finney’s mask made him seem scared and weak, but when he was unmasked/became willing to embrace the strength he possessed, you see he’s strong.

I love this show! It’s hilarious and extremely entertaining. I’m truly invested in EACH character. Often with ensemble casts, there are characters that are just “meh.” Not with this show! Ava cracks me up the most, but they’re all so charming. Additionally, the show does a great job of depicting the camaraderie amongst teachers, and the challenges that underfunded school communities face. I can’t wait until season 2!

I’m shocked by all the positive reviews of this movie and can only deduce that they’re from fans of the source material. As someone who never read the book or watched the original adaptation, this movie is an utter waste of time. It’s confusing, slow and boring. I kept thinking it would get better - that it was building to something - and then the credits began rolling. I thought it was a joke. Seriously. I paused the film to make sure it was truly the end (I was streaming it) because I had such a hard time believing that something with such good reviews and fantastic actors could really be a waste of two-and-a-half hours of my life. Based on the other reviews I’ve read, I’m hesitant to say the film sucks. I’ll just say the film was not for me.